Custom Jewelry Design: How a Commission Works
Custom commissions and repairs are paused until January. We are not taking new orders right now. This guide explains how a custom piece is made and what to expect, so you can plan one for when commissions reopen in January.
Custom jewelry design means a piece made for one person: your size, your stone, and a design agreed with you before any silver is cut. It also raises a question a finished piece answers for you: who makes it. This guide covers what to decide before you ask, the three kinds of custom work we do, what the law expects of a seller, and what your receipt should say.
What to decide before you ask
Most of a commission is settled in the first conversation. Come with answers to these, even rough ones.
- The piece and the size. Ring, cuff, pendant or buckle. For a ring, know your size before you start. Our ring sizing chart shows how to measure.
- The stone. If you want turquoise, decide whether the mine matters to you and whether you want natural or stabilized stone. They are different things at different prices. Our guide to what turquoise is worth explains the difference.
- The metal. If a piece is quoted as sterling, the Federal Trade Commission's jewelry guides set the floor: nothing may be called sterling unless it is "at least 925/1,000ths pure silver."
- Whose hand. This matters most, and the next section explains why.
- Your budget. Say it at the start. It decides the stone and the weight of silver more than anything else does.
Three kinds of custom work, and what we call each
Our workforce is mixed. Some of the people who make our jewelry are Native American and some are not, so we never say that every piece we sell is Native-made. We name each commission by who actually makes it.
Custom jewelry design: house work
A piece designed and made in our own shop. This is what we mean by custom jewelry design, and we never label it Navajo or Native-made, whatever stones or motifs it uses. A Southwest look is a style, not a statement about the maker.
Custom Navajo jewelry
If you want a Navajo-made piece, our custom Navajo commissions are made by our in-house Diné (Navajo) silversmiths, and each piece carries its maker’s hallmark. We have more than one, so tell us if you would like a particular silversmith. Our guide to custom Navajo jewelry covers this in full.
Work by an artist from another nation
If you are looking for Zuni or Santo Domingo (Kewa) work, we will reach out to artists in our network. We cannot promise one will be available. The artist sets the price, so these pieces will likely cost more. Our silversmith directory lists many artists we can reach, but not all of them, so a name in the directory does not mean that artist takes commissions.
What the law expects of a seller
The federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 is "a truth-in-marketing law administered by the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, U.S. Department of the Interior." Under it, "it is illegal to offer or display for sale, or sell, any art or craft product in a manner that falsely suggests it is Indian produced, an Indian product, or the product of a particular Indian Tribe." That is why the three labels above matter. A custom piece is described by who made it, not by how it looks.
The Act covers the maker, not the materials. The same Interior Department brochure notes that "the use of materials, such as turquoise, in the production of Indian art or craftwork is not within the scope of the Act." In New Mexico, state law fills that gap: "The State of New Mexico’s Indian Arts and Crafts Sales Act, unlike the federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act, requires the seller to disclose in writing the type of materials used."
What your receipt should say
A commission is easy to document, because you and the maker settle the details before the piece is made. The Indian Arts and Crafts Board advises buyers to "request a written receipt that includes all the vital information about your purchase," including the artist's name and tribal affiliation, the mine the turquoise came from, and "whether the turquoise is natural, stabilized, or treated." Ask for the same on any custom piece. A Navajo commission names its silversmith. House work is described as house work.
The same brochure has a line that applies to commissions as much as to anything in a case: "Realize that authentic handmade pieces may be expensive…if a price seems too good to be true, be sure to ask more questions about the item and its maker."
Until January
New custom commissions reopen in January. Until then, finished pieces are in our Native American jewelry collection and our turquoise collection. If you are choosing between finished pieces, see how to find the right handcrafted piece and the difference between handmade and craft-work jewelry.
Frequently asked questions
Can I order a custom piece or a repair now?
Not yet. Custom commissions and repairs are paused, and new commissions reopen in January.
Is every T.Skies piece made by a Native American artist?
No. Our workforce is mixed, so we name each piece by its maker. House work is called custom jewelry design and is never labeled Navajo or Native-made. That matters because the Indian Arts and Crafts Act makes it illegal to sell a product "in a manner that falsely suggests it is Indian produced" (Indian Arts and Crafts Board brochure, p. 2).
What does "sterling" have to mean?
At least 92.5% silver. The FTC's jewelry guides say a product may not be called sterling "unless it is at least 925/1,000ths pure silver" (16 CFR 23.5(b)(2)).
What should my receipt list?
The Indian Arts and Crafts Board lists the artist's name and tribal affiliation, the mine the turquoise came from, and "whether the turquoise is natural, stabilized, or treated" (brochure, p. 1).
Sources
- U.S. Department of the Interior, Indian Arts and Crafts Board, with Joe Dan Lowry (Turquoise Museum). Indian Arts and Crafts Act / turquoise consumer brochure (GPO gpo58769), n.d. PDF pp. 1–2.
- Federal Trade Commission. Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries, 16 CFR Part 23, § 23.5(b)(2). eCFR, title issue date 2026-08-13.
